Geology, SUNY College at Oneonta
Information for this profile was provided by James R. Ebert in 2009.
Overview and Context
The Geology major at SUNY Oneonta is a rather traditional program with course work required in all of the major areas of geology.
This is one of five curricula available to undergraduates from the Earth Sciences Department. Other majors include Water Resources (Hydrogeology), Earth Science, Meteorology and Environmental Earth Science.
Program Design
The Oneonta Geology major was designed in the early history of the department to provide a rigorous and comprehensive foundation in all areas of geology. It has been modified over the years to meet changing needs in employment and in response to student interests.
Goals and Assessment
Goals
- Students will attain a working knowledge of major geologic materials
- Students know the geologic time scale
- Students will understand major tectonic processes and interior processes of the Earth
- Students recognize geologic evidence for past plate tectonic processes
- Students are able to discern relationships between geologic and biologic processes
- Students will understand Earth's surficial processes
- Students will develop the ability to visualize the three dimensional nature of geologic features
- Students will be able to apply geologic knowledge in research or practical problems
- Students will understand the process of science as inquiry and the tentative nature of scientific knowledge
- Students are skilled in making observations
- Students make reasonable inferences from observations
- Students will demonstrate competence in analytical thinking and effective communication
Assessment
- Spot assessments in individual courses
- Senior thesis
- Exit questionaires
- Alumni surveys
Courses and Sequencing
Entry into the program:
- Introduction to Geology
- Water and the Blue Planet
- Science of Natural Disasters
- Introduction to Forensic Geology
Core courses
- Earth History and the Fossil Record (Prerequisite: any introductory geology course with a lab)
- Mineralogy (Prerequisite: any introductory course)
- Geologic Data and Analysis (Prerequisite: Earth History)
- Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Prerequisite: Mineralogy)
- Sedimentary Geology (Prerequisite: Earth History)
- Structural Geology (Prerequisites: Geologic Data and Analysis, Mineralogy)
- Geomorphology (Prerequisite: Earth History)
- Introduction to Hydrology (Prerequisite: any introductory course with lab)
Electives
Students are required to take 2 elective courses, selected from:
- Paleontology (Prerequisite: Earth History or Introductory Biology)
- Introduction to Engineering Geology (Prerequisites: Earth History and Introductory Physics)
- Glacial Geology (Prerequisite: Geomorphology)
- Fluvial Geology (Prerequisite: Geomorphology)
- Geochemistry of Natural Waters (Prerequisites: any introductory course and 2 semesters of Chemistry)
- Marine Geology (Prerequisite: Earth History)
Capstone
- Senior Thesis or Independent Study or Field Camp
Other required courses
- Chemistry - 2 semesters
- Physics - 2 semesters
- Calculus 1
- Calculus 2 or Statistics
Additional comments
In addition to the required and elective coursework, we encourage students to participate in undergraduate research projects with our faculty.
